It’s official: Fox News Channel is now the most-watched basic cable network for 25 consecutive months as a result of its July 2018 victory across the 6 a.m. – 6 a.m. total daypart. That’s more than two straight years at No. 1. The network averaged nearly 1.4 million total viewers in July 2018, which is +4 percent growth from July 2017.
FNC had an extremely impressive month in prime time, ratings-wise, thanks to myriad high-profile political events including President Trump’s nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court, which delivered a massive audience for Fox News. The network averaged 2.4 million total prime time viewers in July, which is +14 percent growth from July 2017.
MSNBC posted year-over-year declines in July, a rarity for a network that has been growing its audience in an era of resistance against the Trump administration. The network was -4 percent in total prime time viewers, -20 percent in the prime time demo, -1 percent in total day viewers, and -16 percent among adults 25-54 across total day.
Perhaps progressives are starting to get Trump fatigue? Not so fast. MSNBC still managed to finish July as the second-most-watched basic cable network in prime time, and No. 3 in total day. Not half bad.
CNN had a solid ratings month in its own right. The network remained flat in terms of total prime time viewers vs. July 2017 – due in part to a strong performance from Cuomo Prime Time – but posted losses from last year in total day. CNN finished July 2018 as the No. 7 basic cable network during the 24-hour total day, and the No. 10 basic cable network in prime time.
Here’s a list of the 10-most-watched basic cable networks for July 2018 in prime time and in total day. Data is Nielsen live-plus-same-day.
Top 10 for July 2018 – Prime Time
- Fox News (2,406,000)
- MSNBC (1,663,000)
- HGTV (1,360,000)
- USA (1,344,000)
- History (1,115,000)
- Discovery (1,075,000)
- Hallmark Channel (1,024,000)
- Investigation Discovery (1,010,000)
- TBS (999,000)
- CNN (891,000)
Top 10 for July 2018 – Total Day
- FNC (1,368,000)
- Nickelodeon (936,000)
- MSNBC (921,000)
- HGTV (763,000)
- Investigation Discovery (725,000)
- Hallmark Channel (644,000)
- CNN (638,000)
- USA (612,000)
- History (562,000)
- TNT (544,000)